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There are more Japanese players in the Women’s Super League than ever before and it is easy to see why.

As a national team, Japan have enjoyed success on the global stage – winning the 2011 Women’s World Cup and finishing runners-up in 2015.

They have always produced talent, but it is only in recent years that the WSL has really started to take heed.

Investment in the women’s game has provided more resources for expert analysts, higher-quality video footage and better scouting networks.

It means Asian talent is being scouted on a regular basis and the visibility of Japanese players, in particular, is putting them on the radar of the WSL’s top clubs.

After winning the Golden Boot at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Hinata Miyazawa joined Manchester United, while talented youngster Maika Hamano had bagged a move to WSL champions Chelsea a few months earlier.

They followed in the footsteps of established stars such as Yui Hasegawa, who began her WSL career at West Ham in 2021 and moved to Manchester City a year later.

Last year, Kiko Seike was a relative unknown to Brighton fans until she netted a hat-trick on her WSL debut in a 4-0 win over Everton.

The Toffees themselves signed three Japanese players this summer, while Fuka Tsunoda and Moeka Minami joined Seike at Brighton.

All of them have made their mark and Japan assistant coach Leah Blayney has been following their progress carefully.

“Investment will only see more Japanese players come into the league when people become more aware of their quality,” Australian Blayney told BBC Sport.

“They are highly technical players and extremely robust. I think they are attractive because they can fit into most tactical playing systems.

The biggest Japanese name in the WSL is undoubtedly Manchester City midfielder Hasegawa, who was signed as a replacement for England’s Keira Walsh in 2022 when Walsh left to join Barcelona.

Hasegawa has been named in the PFA’s team of the year in each of her three seasons at the club and was voted City’s best player in 2024-25.

Having been an ever-present in the number six role, Hasegawa has impressed even more this season under new boss Andree Jeglertz – playing higher up the pitch.

“Without a doubt, Yui Hasegawa is a world-class midfielder. I would put her up there with the names of Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. She is quality,” said Blayney.

“Her ability to move the ball under extreme pressure and turn quickly to find a forward pass sets her apart from a lot of number six midfielders in the world who maybe play a little bit safer.”

Hasegawa’s team-mate Aoba Fujino has also impressed during her time in Manchester, netting two goals and setting up another across five WSL games with City this season.

They have come up against rivals United, including compatriot Miyazawa, on several occasions in the WSL.

Blayney has visited both clubs since taking on her role with the Japan national team in January, and regularly attends matches and training sessions.

“I’ve been really impressed with Hinata [Miyazawa] at the moment. You can see her improvements in the last couple of months,” said Blayney.

A large part of Blayney’s role is to travel to England and spend weeks at a time analysing the performances of Japan’s players.3

She also provides player care – helping them manage language barriers, settle into new cities and link them up with other Japanese players in the league.

In the week she spoke to BBC Sport, she had attended games at Brighton, Manchester United and Liverpool.

She saw Risa Shimizu score for Liverpool in their Women’s League Cup win over Sunderland and Miyazawa dominate in United’s 3-0 win over Brann in Europe.

“Since January, I have been immersed in England quite frequently. I’ve been collaborating with coaches directly and that’s been excellent for Japan,” Blayney said.

“They live on the other side of the world, away from home and their families. Sometimes just having a familiar face is important.

“I was a former player who lived abroad so I understand the challenges. I always let the players know I’m coming to their games, but not Aoba Fujino because her face when she sees me always makes me smile.”

With so many Japanese stars in the WSL, clubs are introducing ways to help them settle, providing translation services and offering English speaking lessons.

Manchester City cook Asian-themed meals before matchdays and allow their Japanese players to return later in the winter break so they can celebrate new year with families back home.

As a result, the WSL is an attractive destination for Japan’s top stars and their emerging generation, and Blayney hopes more will make the move in the future.

“It is terrific for the younger players in Japan to see there is a pathway to the top leagues,” said Blayney.

“If I use Hikaru Kitagawa as an example from Everton, all the girls in England came around her and helped support her with the transition.

Fantasy Premier League managers who ditched Mohamed Salah – he is now owned by fewer than four in 10 teams – will be looking nervously at Liverpool’s home game against Manchester United.

Salah has 13 goals and six assists in 15 league matches against United, which is some record.

This is where you need to decide what matters most to you as an FPL manager – form, statistics or history.

In both form and statistics Salah is not worth the price at the moment, with just two goals and four returns this season. His expected goals is just 2.13 in seven games and he’s only had five shots on target.

So this team of the week has no Salah, Erling Haaland as captain and the budget spread more evenly.

Of course, that decision could go spectacularly wrong!

The team of the week is selected based on current FPL prices to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

A monster week, with all but two players returning!

Antoine Semenyo was the star again, with 18 points, but 38 points from double Arsenal and double Newcastle defence propped up the week.

Bart Verbruggen, Brighton, keeper, £4.4m – Newcastle (h)

Much has been made of Newcastle’s superb defensive start to the season, with a league-high five clean sheets.

But away from home they have scored ZERO goals – three 0-0 draws – and managed just six shots on target. If that trend continues, Brighton have a decent chance of a first clean sheet of the season.

Gabriel (£6.3m) and Jurrien Timber (£5.9m), Arsenal – Fulham (a)

Last week I wrote: “West Ham (h), Fulham (a), Crystal Palace (h), Sunderland (a), Burnley (a).

“That’s a sweet run for Arsenal and it makes sense to invest in their defenders.”

And that point still stands. Get at least one Arsenal defensive asset in and set and forget for that run.

The duo paid off last week with a combined 19 points. Fulham away is always a tricky game to call but they might be without a recognised striker again.

Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4.1m – Wolves (h)

The Paraguayan and his centre-back partner Nordi Mukiele (£4m) are both great budget defensive options and this is a great week to start them.

Alderete has gathered 53 defensive contributions points this season, getting the two-point bonus twice. Mukiele has a similar record (48 and bonus twice).

Eberechi Eze, Arsenal, £7.6m – Fulham (a)

With Martin Odegaard set for a spell on the sidelines, Eze looks set for an extended run in the Arsenal side and that makes him a very intriguing FPL option.

He tops most underlying statistics for Arsenal midfielders. His 17 shots translates to an average of 3.85 shots per 90 minutes – Bukayo Saka is next best at 2.33 – and 11 of those have been in the box.

Bear in mind he is yet to score and you could say “he’s due”!

Eze has been involved in 38% of Arsenal’s goals when he’s on the pitch, which is huge in an Arsenal side with so many good players.

Involved, playing well and a good price. Get him on your radar.

Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth, £7.9m – Crystal Palace (a)

This slot is reserved for Semenyo until further notice. Palace away is not the easiest game but he might just be fixture proof.

Jaidon Anthony, Burnley, £5.7m – Leeds (h)

Leeds are a side you can target away from home, where their expected goals conceded (xGC) is more than double their record at Elland Road – 5.5 to 2.3.

Four-goal Anthony is proving to be Burnley’s best goal threat and is a nice price if you are looking for a rotatable fifth midfielder.

These are the kind of games you play him in – home to a fellow promoted side – and Burnley have a point to prove after a poor start.

Jeremy Doku, Manchester City, £6.6m – Everton (h)

Doku is a bit of a minutes risk but his past two home games have each resulted in 10-point hauls.

Behind Haaland, he is City’s most creative player so far – involved in 27% of the team’s goals when on the pitch.

With his explosive pace, you’d fancy him to have joy against Everton’s Jake O’Brien who, despite playing well this season, is still a 6ft 6in centre-back playing as a full-back.

Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea, £6.7m – Nottingham Forest (a)

Cole Palmer’s injury is bad news for Chelsea but good news for Fernandez’s FPL value as he is likely to continue playing in an advanced role.

Among all players in the league he has the fourth-highest xG so far at 3.66, and the second-highest among midfielders.

We’re raving about Semenyo, whose xG is mildly better at 3.73, so does this make Fernandez the next best midfield pick?

He’s had eight shots in the box, six big chances, three goals. With better finishing he’d have more and is also on penalties.

Erling Haaland (captain), Manchester City, £14.5m – Everton (h)

Like Semenyo, you really don’t want to go without Haaland at the moment.

The lack of alternative premium assets – especially with Palmer injured – means you all should be able to fit him in your teams.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.7m – Brentford (h)

Bowen’s switch from midfielder to forward this season put a lot of FPL managers off but he has quietly excelled and is the third-highest scoring forward.

With a lack of forward options in general – and a decent fixture run, including Leeds and Burnley in the next four – Bowen could be the next best punt.

Martin Dubravka, Burnley, keeper, £4m – Leeds (h)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds, £5.5m, striker – Burnley (a)

Josko Gvardiol, Manchester City, £5.9m, defender – Everton (h)

Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace, £4.9m, defender – Bournemouth (h)

La Liga’s decision to move the fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona to Miami in December is “good for football”, says Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan.

In August, the RFEF approved plans for the game that had been due to be hosted at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica to instead take place at Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December.

Real Madrid expressed opposition, stating the consequences would be “so serious” and lead to a “before and after” for the world of football.

Confirmation of the Miami game followed a decision by the Italian football federation (FIGC) to sanction a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como to be played in Perth, Australia in February.

“It’s a reward for those fans who are behind the screen, also in Asia or America, who are paying a fee to watch all the Spanish La Liga matches. It’s a gesture to them,” Louzan said.

“It’s good for football and it promotes the Spanish La Liga around the world. Italy is also going to do it with Serie A in Australia. It’s a good move for the best league in the world to do it.”

European football’s governing body Uefa was in “clear opposition” to the plans but “reluctantly” gave approval because there was no legal framework to stop it.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said it was a “regrettable” decision to allow two European league matches to be played overseas and insisted it “shall not be seen as setting a precedent”.

Barcelona’s greatest ever player, Lionel Messi, has made Miami his home since joining Inter Miami in 2023 following a two-season spell at Paris St-Germain.

Joan Laporta, Barcelona’s president, said when the fixture was announced: “A competitive game in a city like Miami, with a large FC Barcelona following, will definitely be a great show.”